PP slams 2026 Cabildo budget as “continuist”

The Popular Party in the Cabildo of Fuerteventura has denounced the island’s 2026 budget proposal, calling it “continuist” and, in its view, detached from the island’s main challenges such as housing, transport infrastructure and water management. The opposition group conveyed this assessment in a statement released on Thursday.

Claudio Gutiérrez, spokesperson for the Popular Group, pointed out that the accounts presented by the governing coalition would raise current‑year spending to almost double the amount allocated to real investment. He argued that this approach prioritises internal operations and certain subsidies over the execution of public works.

“It is not about spending more, but about how the money is spent,” Gutiérrez said, referring to the budget’s structure.

The PP also maintains that the low level of investment execution in previous years reflects, in its opinion, a failure to make full use of available resources. In this sense, Gutiérrez warned that leaving a significant portion of the investment chapter unexecuted sends a message of paralysis for island‑wide action.

Amendments in favour of housing, study scholarships and sport

The Popular Group has presented a package of amendments focused mainly on housing and scholarships.

• Housing: The PP proposes mobilising more than €2 million for active housing policies by halving the line items earmarked for advertising, institutional propaganda and external technical studies. According to the party, this re‑ordering would double the funds initially planned for this sector.

• Education: The PP seeks an increase of €139,251 for scholarships for the 2025/2026 academic year, aimed at students studying outside Fuerteventura. The spokesperson argued that the boost is intended to offset the rising cost of living and guarantee equal opportunities. He recalled that aid to AMPAS and educational centres was removed from the 2025 budget, a decision he attributed to liquidity problems.

• Sport: The opposition criticised the allocation for sport, stating that the budget does not cover the full range of aid demanded by the sector nor does it address existing deficiencies in sports infrastructure.

The PP also criticised the budget‑approval process, claiming that the two‑day window provided for reviewing the documentation—coinciding with public holidays—was insufficient and limited the group’s ability to scrutinise the proposal.

The PP denounces an “inflated” revenue forecast for waste management in Zurita

The party’s spokesperson highlighted warnings from the Internal Audit Office regarding revenue forecasts that the PP considers exaggerated. In particular, the Cabildo plans to collect €3.9 million linked to waste management in Zurita, a figure the PP says would directly affect citizens’ pockets.

In the cultural sphere, the Popular Party submitted amendments to correct what it calls a territorial imbalance in fund distribution. These include a specific €15,000 line for the Achipencos of Puerto del Rosario and €110,000 for the rehabilitation of the Island Network of Leisure Centres and museums, which the party deems to be in poor condition.

The Popular Group’s statement concluded by asserting that the current budget draft does not, in its view, address Fuerteventura’s real priorities and called for a re‑orientation of the accounts toward direct investment and essential services.